Vehicle headlamp

Abstract

A vehicle headlamp includes a first light source configured to emit first light that is projected to form a first irradiation region, a second light source configured to emit second light that is projected to form a second irradiation region joined to the first irradiation region to extend in a transverse direction with respect to an optical axis, a movable shade configured to move between a position at which light irradiation to a joined region of the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region is shielded, and a position at which the light irradiation to the joined region is permitted, and a controller configured to select one of light distribution patterns that are determined by combinations of turning on and off of the first light source, turning on and off of the second light source, and the positions of the movable shade.

1. A vehicle headlamp comprising:
 a projection lens; 
 a first light source configured and arranged such that first light from the first light source is forwardly projected through the projection lens to form a first irradiation region; 
 a second light source configured and arranged such that second light from the second light source is forwardly projected through the projection lens to form a second irradiation region, wherein the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region are joined to extend in a transverse direction with respect to an optical axis of the vehicle headlamp; 
 a movable shade configured to move between a position at which light irradiation to a joined region where the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region are joined is shielded, and a position at which the light irradiation to the joined region is permitted; and 
 a controller configured to select one of light distribution patterns that are determined by combinations of turning on and off of the first light source, turning on and off of the second light source, and the positions of the movable shade. 
 
     
     
       2. The vehicle headlamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable shade comprises a reflecting portion on a side surface thereof to guide a portion of at least one of the first light and the second light the light incident on the reflecting portion to at least one of the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region. 
     
     
       3. The vehicle headlamp according to  claim 2 , further comprising a region cutting member arranged along a direction of the optical axis between the first light source and the second light source to define a vertical cut line of the first irradiation region on a side of the joined region and a vertical cut line of the second irradiation region on a side of the joined region,
 wherein the reflecting portion of the movable shade covers at least a portion of a front portion of the region cutting member. 
 
     
     
       4. The vehicle headlamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising a region cutting member arranged along a direction of the optical axis between the first light source and the second light source to define a vertical cut line of the first irradiation region on a side of the joined region and a vertical cut line of the second irradiation region on a side of the joined region. 
     
     
       5. The vehicle headlamp according to  claim 1 , further comprising a rotary shade, wherein the rotary shade comprises a plurality of edged shade sections on a circumference of the rotary shade, each of the edged shade sections extending in the transverse direction to shade at least a portion of at least one of the first irradiation region and the second irradiation region,
 wherein the movable shade is formed on a portion of the rotary shade, and 
 the movable shade and the edged shade sections are configured and arranged such that a light-shielding condition is changed in accordance with a rotation of the rotary shade. 
 
     
     
       6. The vehicle headlamp according to  claim 1 , wherein the movable shade comprises a blocking surface on a side facing the projection lens, wherein the blocking surface is configured to block extraneous light incoming through the projection lens from reaching the first light source and the second light source.